Samhain is the hinge of the year—the place where one door soft-closes and another opens quietly.
Crops are in. The light is thinning. The veil is thin enough to hear what you may have been too busy to notice.
This isn’t just an ending. It’s a threshold.
In the old calendar, Samhain marks the Witch’s New Year. It’s a perfect moment to tell the truth to your journal, to your spirit, and to the next version of you who’s waiting at the gate.
These 13 prompts are a ritual in pages.
Think of them as a way to compost what’s done, honor what was real, and plant new seeds in dark, fertile soil.
Use them as a complete ceremony or let one question be your entire rite.
Either way, they’ll help you close the old cycle with reverence and step into the new one with clear intent.
How to Use This (Create a Simple, Potent Container)
- Create your space (5–10 minutes). Dim lights. Light one black or white candle. Have a cup of something warm nearby. Optional: a small plate with apple, honey, or bread as an offering to your ancestors and helping spirits.
- Ground & open. Take three slow breaths. On your exhale, imagine the old year loosening its grip. On your inhale, breathe in your power.
- State your intention. Say something akin to: “I’m closing the old cycle with gratitude and wisdom, and beginning again with courage and clarity.”
- Timebox. Choose either:
- Full Rite (60–90+ min): Move through all 13 prompts.
- Short & Sacred (20–30 min): Pick 3 prompts—one to release, one to honor, one to begin.
Pro tip: Write by candlelight if you can. You’ll think differently when your nervous system is soothed and your senses are invited into ritual.
The Arc of the Work (Why These 13?)
In general, folks usually move through five phases: Release → Remember → Reckon → Reclaim → Re-Seed.
This mirrors the end-of-harvest reality…clear the field, glean what matters, account honestly, gather your power, plant in the dark.
Phase I — Release (Let the Old Year Exhale)
1) The Shedding List
What am I done carrying?
List ten things. They can be habits, dynamics, roles, stories. These are things that belong to the year that’s closing.
For each, write a brief line that starts: “I release ___ because ___.”
Close with: “I return the energy bound up in this to my own life force.”
2) Unfinished Business
Name three open loops that keep tugging your attention (a conversation, a decision, a mess you keep stepping over).
For each:
- What’s in my control right now?
- One tiny next step I can take within 48 hours?
- If it truly can’t be closed now, how will I contain it (a date, a boundary, a clear “not yet”)?
3) What I Forgive, What I Won’t Repeat
Where am I ready to soften? Where do I need to stay sharp? Write two short lists:
- Forgive: one sentence each.
- Learned: one line of boundary or principle you’ll keep.
Phase II — Remember (Harvest the Honey)
4) Quiet Victories You Almost Missed
Name seven things you did right this year—especially the quiet ones (for example: rested, told the truth, asked for help, held your tongue).
For each, what shifted because of it?
5) Allies Seen & Unseen
Who or what helped you?
This can be people, places, animals, dreams, ancestors, the land itself, etc.
Write a brief thank-you to each. (If you’re offering food or light on your altar tonight, dedicate it here.)
6) The Skill You Grew by Accident
What did challenge secretly teach you (patience, discernment, resilience, better boundaries, etc.)?
Where will that skill serve you next?
Phase III — Reckon (Name the Pattern, Claim the Lesson)
7) The Honest Autopsy
Choose one situation that drained you. Without blame or performance, write:
- What actually happened (facts, not verdicts).
- Where I overrode my gut.
- The cost (time, money, energy, self-trust).
- The lesson in one sentence.
Close with: “I choose the lesson over the loop.”
8) Shadow’s Gift
What did you avoid that kept circling back?
What emotion did you postpone (anger, grief, desire, envy)?
Give it a page to speak. Let it tell you what it wants for you—not from you.
Phase IV — Reclaim (Call Your Power Back)
9) The Power Retrieval
Write your name at the top of a clean page.
Then list the places your power leaked this year (people-pleasing, doom-scrolling, perfectionism, over-giving, second-guessing).
For each, write a reclamation spell in plain language:
“I call back my power from ___, cleansed and renewed, to be used in wisdom.”
Seal it with three deep breaths and a sip of water.
10) Boundaries with a Pulse
Boundaries are living fences, not stone walls.
What boundary would have saved you the most energy this year?
Draft the exact words you’ll use next time (keep it neutral, kind, and firm).
Example structure: “I’m not available for ___. Here’s what I can do: ___.”
11) The New Standard
Every new year wants a new baseline.
What’s your non-negotiable standard for how you treat yourself?
Is it your time? Your creative work?
Write one standard for each and the first micro-habit that proves it daily.
Phase V — Re-Seed (Plant in the Dark)
12) The One Brave Thing
If you do just one brave thing before the next cross-quarter (Imbolc), what would it be?
Name it, give it a shape, set a date, and absorb the feeling of it being done.
- Why it matters to your spirit
- The smallest first step
- A symbol you’ll place on your altar to keep it alive
13) The Vow to the New Year
Write a short vow that’s not about outcomes…but orientation.
Let it be simple and potent. For example:
- “I vow to choose the path where my integrity expands.”
- “I vow to create work that nourishes me as much as it helps others.”
- “I vow to rest as devotion, not reward.”
Speak it aloud. Blow out the candle to seal.
Add-Ons (for Folks Who Love a Little Extra Magic)
The Ancestor Whisper
Write one question to the Beloved Dead (or to a wise future you) about the road ahead.
Sleep with the page under your pillow tonight.
In the morning, free-write whatever you remember—images, sentences, colors, single words.
Don’t force it. Receive.
A 3-Card Samhain Spread for the New Year
Draw three cards (tarot or oracle) and journal briefly:
- What to Compost (what’s complete)
- What to Carry (harvested gift)
- What to Cultivate (seed in the dark)
A New Year’s Toast
Make a tiny “witch’s new year” tea or toast.
Mix warm water with lemon, honey, and a pinch of cinnamon…or have a slice of apple with honey.
Sip or bite with the words: “Sweetness returns. Wisdom remains.”
Too Busy to Do a Big Journaling Exercise? Try this 10-Minute Version
- Light a candle.
- Write #1 (Shedding List) with three items.
- Write #4 (Quiet Victories) with three items.
- Write #12 (One Brave Thing) with one action + date.
- Speak #13 (Vow) out loud. Blow out the candle.
It’s enough. Truly.
Micro-Prompts
- What are you done carrying into the dark half?
- What quiet victory changed your year?
- Where will a living boundary save you energy?
- If you did one brave thing before Imbolc, what would it be?
- What vow will you keep when no one’s watching?
Integration: Make the Magic Stick
1-Day Sweep (Tomorrow): Do one concrete action from Prompt #2 or #12. Text the friend. Schedule the appointment. Unfollow the account. Take the walk. Start the draft.
7-Day Drift: Each day, reread your vow and spend five minutes doing something that matches it. Tiny is holy.
Altar Token: Choose one symbol for the brave thing (a key, seed, ribbon, stone). Keep it visible through the dark months as a living reminder.
If the Energy Lingers
Most post-Samhain sensations settle after you cleanse and ground (salt bath, brisk walk, floor sweep with intention, a hearty meal, early sleep).
If unsettling feelings persist or escalate, it’s wise to seek support from a trusted practitioner or licensed professional. Stewarding your well-being is part of the path.
Disclaimer
This piece is for spiritual inspiration, self-reflection, and educational purposes only. It’s not medical, legal, financial, or mental-health advice. I’m not your doctor, therapist, or spiritual or financial advisor. Use fire, herbs, and essential oils safely and according to instructions; mind allergies and pets; keep candles attended and in fire-safe holders. If shadow work brings up difficult emotions, reach out to qualified support (therapist, counselor, or appropriate professional). You’re the expert on you—take what helps and leave the rest.
